Front Antiroll Bar Bushes Fixed Cheap thanks to Dandywarhol

[mikeonb4c]

Not a lot to say really. Some while back Dandy posted that he’d repaired his anti-roll bar bushes by re-sleeving them using bicycle inner tube. I tried the technique on my front anti-roll bar bushes yesterday and it was a cinch. I’ve attached a couple of pics showing how I used a spare piece of pipe to wrap the new inner tube around before enfolding them in the bush which then gave me a mask for cutting out and trimming the tubing. I cut over-size at first, backed them with double sided tape and stuck them into place using the pipe to allow me to press everything together before trimming of the tubing rubber accurately with the rubber bush as a mask.

My Bongo clonks no more (though it only just starting to anyway). I cannot imagine this fix causing problems at MOT (virtually impossible to spot too!).

So thanks Dandy – one of the (if not the?) longest serving technical gurus on BF. Saved £s and hassle of ordering

[lizard]

B****r, I have just changed mine, too late

[maxheadroom]

Cheers Mike & Dandy,
just did mine took 20 mins at most. Haven't driven it yet, do that tomorrow all I have to do now is the drop links, had a quick test of the nuts god there tight so plus gassed them and have a go tomorrow.
Cheers again chaps

[lizard]

Cheers Mike & Dandy,
just did mine took 20 mins at most. Haven't driven it yet, do that tomorrow all I have to do now is the drop links, had a quick test of the nuts god there tight so plus gassed them and have a go tomorrow.
Cheers again chaps

You're right there, both sides are tight, the top extreamly s*****g tight. Nearly strained myself

[mikeonb4c]

B****r, I have just changed mine, too late

I wouldn't sweat it lizard. I reckon fitting replacements is better really as I'm sure mine must have some rubber fatigue really. You know where you are with brand new replacements and they're not that dear. But (with both rear and front) I was lucky as my nuts came off no fuss And doing this repair just allowed me to get it all working again until/unless it recurs

[dandywarhol]

Thanks for the thanks Best to use some rubber grease on the bushes/inner tube too - it saves them wearing as they turn and lasts longer. Mine have been "inner tubed" for about 18 months now

[mikeonb4c]

Strange how the forum doesn't alert you to all new posts. I missed this one from Dandy. Never did rubber grease them (didn't have any anyway). I reckon they''ll last though and if they don't it's a cinch to redo them (bolts permitting, but I've been lucky with all mine ). A great tip. Thanks+++

[dandywarhol]

You're welcome - another tip - finally tighten the clamps for the bushes with the vehicle at it's natural height (use a jack under the wishbone if it's still up on axle stands) otherwise the bushes/innertube try to revolve when the van is on the ground.

That tip is good for all suspension jobs involving rubber "metalastic" bushes...........surprising the number of cars that fail the MOT every year for the same "worn/split" wishbone bushes after the garage fitted them with the car up on a hoist

[teenmal]

If you dont have rubber grease,and your are pushed for time you can use brake fluid.

Mal..

[dandywarhol]

Had to change an anti roll bar bracket today - Eastern European roads gave it a hard time

Another tip when fitting new bushes/brackets is to lever out the bracket before tightening the nuts the final turn - this ensures the bushes don't get "splayed" out by the tightening process, otherwise the a/roll bar will be slack on the bushes and still rattle. I used a prybar between the axle and the a/roll bar to lever it out.